Tax-exempt COLA increased by P30

Under the Department of Labor & Employment (DOLE)- NCR’s Wage Order No. 17, minimum wage is increase by P30 cost of living allowance (COLA) as follows:

First tranche – P20 per day upon the effectivity of Wage Order No. 17; and

Second tranche – P10 per day effective on November 1, 2012.

The new minimum wage rate under the Wage order No. 16 that took effect last 26 May 2011 of P426 for National Capital Region integrating the previous COLA of P22 will remain in force. Integrating the new COLA under the new Wage Order, the new minimum wage for non-agriculture sectors will now become P446.00 (P426+20) upon effectivity of the new Wage Order No. 17, and P456.00 (P446+P10) on November 1, 2012 or equivalent to P13,680.00 a month (P456.00 x 30 days).

In effect, the minimum wage earners will now earn P600 more (P20 x 30 days) upon the effectivity of the new Wage Order, and P900 more (P30 x 30 days) starting November 1, 2012. Coverage of the Minimum Wage Law remains the same in all other aspects (e.g. exemption from the coverage of the Barangay Micro Business Enterprise – BMBE).

For other sectors such as agriculture, private hospitals with bed capacity of 100 or less, retail/service establishments employing not more than 10 workers and manufacturing establishments employing less than 10 workers, minimum wage will be P409 per day upon the effectivity of the new Wage Order, and P419 per day effective November 1, 2012.

Comment:

With the increase of the BIR of the tax-exempt uniform allowance by P1,000 (from P4,000 to P5,000) effective 1 January 2012 under Revenue Regulations No. 18-12, employees could enjoy at least P1,900 tax-exempt compensation every month including the above COLA increase.